It's the time of year you may want to consider a small patio garden as a fun way to help enrich your family's diet over the course of the summer. Getting kids involved in growing food can sometimes help expand there taste buds. A simple way to help get kids intrigued is to grow a rainbow. Not only is this fun but, every colour has a different set of nutrients that contribute to our overall health.

Whether you've chosen to plant in the ground or in boxes here are the first three things I would start planting any time now.

Peas, who doesn't love peas! These wonderful vines grow up almost anything, they are fun to grow and fun to pick. You can plant them as soon as you can get your fingers in the ground and continue planting once a week right through the summer. The best part about peas is that you can eat the new shoots as well, making them a perfect way to help enhance a salad or stir-fry.

Heirloom carrots. These lovely carrots not only come in several different colours, meaning they come with several different sets of nutrients, they taste amazing. My kids have always enjoyed growing carrots, so much in fact I had to hide a row to ensure that there would be some for dinners as well. We plant carrots weekly to ensure a good steady supply all summer.

Not only are beets a lovely way to get more out of your rainbow garden, they are an up and comming super food. Beets help maximize your space, by using one plant to put more variety on your table. Not only do they come in many different colours and flavors, but you can also eat the greens in salads and stir-fries. The leaves can even be used to make cabbage rolls. I like a plant these at least three times during the spring , once about every 2-3 weeks.As the weather continues to get warmer you'll be able to add more and more to your rainbow garden. These 3 vegetables are a lovely way to start growing your rainbow this spring.